Metal rolling



Feb. 2, 1965 A. w. SCRIBNER METAL ROLLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1962 INVENTOR.

Feb. 2, 1965 A. w. SCRIBNER METAL ROLLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1962 Fi e 11 United States Patent Office 3,167,980 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 3,167,980 METAL ROLLING Albert W. Scribner, 6 Country Club Road, Darien, Conn. Filed July 5, 1962, Ser. No. 207,664 3 Claims. (Cl. 80-48) This invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for reducing metal; and more particularly relates to a unique method and apparatus for reducing metal by oscillating a work roll back and forth along a relative short path of contact with the work metal and for applying to the work surfaces being rolled transverse and longitudinal working forces.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for more efl'lciently roll reducing metal whereby oscillatory working forces are sequentially applied to the work material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel planetary type rolling mill where means are provided for drawing the work rolls together and then permitting the same to separate during the rolling action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for working metal by oscillating a pair of opposed backing members each of which sup ports the working surfaces of a small work roll whereby the pair of opposed cooperating work rolls roll bi-directionally back and forth over a short contact path with the work material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel planetary rolling technique wherein the forces applied to the work rolls and the direction of swinging movement of said rolls are set up with predetermined novel interrelationship.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel planetary rolling technique wherein at least some of the work rolls during their respective working strokes are swung in a direction that is substantially opposite to the direction of feed of the work blank.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the disclosure progresses. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view taken in partial section along section line 11 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus taken in partial section along section line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are detailed fragmentary views illustrating a portion of the flexible roll cage of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are detailed fragmentary views illustrating a modified construction for the flexible roll cage and related structure.

FIGS. 7-1l are diagrammatic views illustrating modified techniques for roll working a metal blank.

In that the apparatus shown in FIGS. 16 is disclosed in my US. Patent 3,013,451 the present description thereof will be abbreviated. The machine frame comprises a base 10 having a pair of spaced upstanding side frame members 11 secured thereto which are connected at their upper ends by a platform member 12. The side frame members rotatably support a planetary roll head 13 and a pair of cooperating finishing or planishing rolls 14 and 15. The roll head 13 is conventionally constructed and comprises a backing roll 16 having hubs such as 17 on each of which is mounted a roll cage 20 that rotatably supports a plurality of small work rolls 21 which are adapted to roll around the outer periphery of the backing roll 16 in the usual manner. A gear 22 is fixed to the outer end of a roll hub 17 so as to afford a means of rotatably driving the backing roll 16.

Cooperating with roll head 13 is an oscillatable tool head 23 which comprises a pair of radially extending arms '24 which are rotatably mounted at their inner ends of the respective hubs of the backing roll 16 and which have fixedly secured to and between their outer ends a backing member 25. The periphery of member 25 is primarily defined by an inner concave surface 26 and an outer convex surface 27. A plurality of work rolls 30 are operatively maintained in spaced relation about the periphery of backing members 25 by means of a flexible roll cage 31 such as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Here the cage comprises a plurality of links 32 which are pivotally connected together in series by the necks 33 of the successive work rolls 30.

The tool head 23 is capable of being oscillated about the axis of the roll head 13, the means for producing the oscillatory movement comprising a motor 34 which is mounted on the platform member 12 and which has an output shaft 35 that drives a suitable gear transmission 36. Secured to each laterally disposed free end "of the transverse transmission output shaft 37 is a short crank arm 40 which is pivotally connected to a link 41 that is pivotally secured to a projection 42 formed on the outer end of each of said radial arms 24.

The center of curvature of the circular are 43 defined by the motion of rolls 30 over the concave surfaces 26 is vertically offset from the axis of roll head 13 by a distance substantially equal to the initial thickness T of the work blank 44.

In operation the roll head 13 is driven in a clockwise direction 45 and motor 34 will cause the tool head 23 to be oscillated through a relatively short arcuate distance as indicated by arrows 46. The work metal 44 is fed to the right into the curved roll pass and will be worked in vertical shear planes as it moves around a curved path with the planetary roll head 13 operatively disposed on the concave side thereof. It Will be noted that the axis of the roll head 13 and the axis of rotation of the tool head 23 are both disposed on the same side of the curved roll pass. As the tool head 23 is oscillated the work rolls 30 in addition to being oscillatorally planetated will slowly planetate over the inner and the outer surfaces of the backing member 25 in a generally counter clockwise direction 47 due to the progressive elongation of the metal being reduced. Here the translational movement of the backing member 25 corresponds to the rotary motion of a conventional type backing roll such as 16. The planetary speed of the work rolls 30 during said oscillation may be much less than that for the work rolls on the roll head 13. The arcuate distance through which each roll 30 planetates during each half cycle of said oscillation may be approximately equal to the distance between centers of said rolls 30.

In order to compensate for the increased speed of flow of the work metal as it approaches the exit of the roll pass and to insure a continuous rolling contact between each work roll 30 and the metal being worked, the flexible roll cage may have an alternate construction which permits the distance between the centers of said rolls to be varied. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 two cage links 50 and 51 which are respectively pivotally connected to the necks on each side of each adjacent pair of work rolls may be mutually pivotally connected by a stud 53 which rotatably supports a small roller 54. It will be apparent that as the roller 54 is moved closer to 55 or farther away (56) from the line of centers between said pair of rolls 3!) these two work rolls will be respectively moved farther away from or closer to each other. A cam 57 FIGURE 6, is secured to the inner side at the outer end of each radial arm 24. Said rollers 54 are adapted to successively engage the respective outer surface of said cams; the effective shape of said cams being such that the rolls 30 are drawn close together just before they enter the roll pass. As soon as each roll operatively engages the work its associated rollers 54 will move off the lower end of earns 57 respectively and will then be free to move relative to the next following roll 30. As the rolls 30 progressively move down over the concave surface 26 of the backing member 25 the toggle action between said links 50 and 51 will permit the rolls to adjust themselves to theparticular speed of flow of that portion of the metal which they contact. The rocking back and forth of the planetary work rolls 30 will efficiently work and reduce the blank material. After leaving the planetary roll pass the reduced work passes between the planishing rolls 14 and 15 for smoothing out any surface irregularities in the reduced strip. The backing roll 16 may also be oscillatably actuated through short arcuate strokes in synchronism with the oscillations of the tool head 23 through a suitable means such as a crank operated rack that meshes with the gear 22.

FIGS. 7-11 illustrate another technique for applying roll working strokes to a work blank; such being described in my prior patent application Serial #697,845, filed November 21, 1957 for Method and Apparatus for Reducing Metal; now abandoned. The general apparatus employed here may be of the type shown by US Patents 2,932,- 997; 2,710,550 or 1,622,744 except that separate and independent torque applying means may be connected respectively to the backing rolls and the roll cages of the mill. When one torque applying means is operatively driven the other may be braked. In the diagrammatic sketch of FIG. 7 when the backing rolls 80, 81 are driven as shown by arrows 82 and 83 the Work rolls 84 planetate as indicated by arrows 85', 86 so as to reduce the work metal in the usual fashion by the application of the primarily transverse type compressive forces generally illustrated by arrows 90. Longitudinal type forward and backward forces 91' and 92 may also be applied directly to the surface of the metal being worked by appropriately controlling the operation of the respective torque applying means as will be hereinafter discussed. 7

In FIG. 8 the stretching or back longitudinal forces 92 may be applied directly to the work metal surfaces in a direction which is generally opposite to the direction 93 of overall feed of the work metal. A driving torque 94 is applied to the backing rolls 80. The frictional contact between the rotatably driven roll 80 and the work roll 84 will cause the latter to roll over the surfaces 95 of the work metal. This rolling motion 96 is defined by the combined planetary and rotating-'motions 90 and 100 respectively, and will cause said work roll to progressively apply the transverse compressive reducing forces 90 to said surfaces 95. A clockwise braking torque 101 is then applied to the roll cage so as to oppose said planetary motion 97 of roll 84. Under these conditions roll 84 will become rotatably biased in a clockwise direction 102 and will thereby frictionally apply the said rearward longitudinal stretching force 92 as it rolls over the said surfaces 95. The braking torque 101, as well as those to be referred to below, is not made great enough to cause the roll 84 to skid over the surfaces 95, but rather is of a magnitude to cause the working surfaces of said roll 84 to frictionally grip the surface metal being worked. Here the transverse reducing forces 90 will be progressively applied by the said rolling motion 96 and stretching forces 92 will be simultaneously applied by the said clockwise rotational bias 102 dynamically superimposed on said rolling work roll 84. T he resultant actions of these two types of forces simultaneously applied by roll 84 to the work metal will improve the speed and efliciency at which the planetary rolling operation may be carried out.

In similar fashion the apparatus of FIG. 7 may be used to produce a forward stretching force which is disposed in the same general directions as the said overall direction of flow 93 of the work metal. Referring to FIG. 9 a counter clockwise driving torque is applied to the roll cage so as to produce the rolling motion 110 of roll 84. Simultaneously a clockwise braking torque 111 is' applied to the backing roll so that a counter clockwise rotational bias 112 will be dynamically superimposed on the work roll 84 as it rolls over the surfaces of the metal. The rotational bias 112 will apply the forward stretching force 91 directly to said surfaces 95 while said rolling motion will progressively apply the transverse compressive force 90 directly to the surface 95 of the metal being worked. V e

If desired boththe roll 80 and the roll cages may be driven in a counter clockwise direction in the operation of the apparatus.

A furtherme'tho'd of applying a combination of transverse and stretching. forces directly to the metal being reduced is illustrated in FIG. 10. Here the backing roll 80 may be driven'in a clockwise direction so as to produce the rolling motion 121 of roll 84. Simultaneously a counter clockwise braking torque 112 is applied to the roll cage so thata counter clockwise rotational bias 123 is dynamicallysuperimposed on the roll 84. Said rolling motion 121 is opposite in general direction to the overall movement 93 of the work metal and will progre'ssively apply the transverse compressive force 90 while said rotational bias 123 will apply the forward longi tudinal stretching force 91 directly to the surfaces 95 of the metal being worked. Here the reducing action of the. rolling .m'otion' 121will increase rather thanjdecrease near theer'id of the operative stroke of ro1l 8 4'.

In each of the techniques illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10" respectively the lower roll'head' not shown is operated in a manner corresponding to that described for the upper roll head. Further by operatively interposing idler pinions between the two-roll cages and'also between the two backing roll drive gears both upper and lower roll heads may be driven in the same rotative direction. Here the upper roll head maybe operated as described in connection with FIG. 8 while the lower roll head is simultaneously operated as described in connection'withFIG. 10. In this .way the work rolls on one roll head move generally opposite to thefeed direction during their working strokes while the workrolls on the other head move generally with the feed direction during their working strokes.

FIG. 11 illustrates a planetary type mill which is utilized to provide an oscillatory technique for more eificiently reducing the work metal. Here the planetable work rolls are operatively positioned in working en'- gagement with opposite'surfaces 131 of the work blank 132'and the backing rolls 133 or segments thereof supportingsaid work rolls are rotatably oscillated as illustrated by arrows 134. This oscillatory actuation of the backing rolls will cause a back and forth rolling motion 135, 136 of the work rolls over a small arc of contact with the work metal. This back and forth rolling action of rolls 130 will progressively'reduce the work metal as the latter is fed as at 137 toward the work rolls. The work rolls may be swung clear of the work metal at the end of the respective clockwise and/ or counter clockwise working strokes so as to permit intermittent feeding of the work blank. Here the work blank experiences little resistance during the successively incremental feed movement and is vertically supported by any suitable means duringsaid feeding movements. A superimposed rotational torque may be applied to work rolls 130, as in FIGS. 7-10, as said work rolls roll through their oscillatory strokes so as to impose a longitudinal force on the surface of the metal being worked. v

Having described the principles of the invention, I claim:

1. A method of roll reducing a metal work blank; comprising the steps of operatively positioning the work blank to receive a series of roll working strokes,

placing a pair of work rolls in operative engagement with opposite sides of a portion of said work blank,

moving one of said work rolls through a plurality'of working strokes in one direction with respect to said portion of the work blank,

simultaneously moving the other of said rolls through a plurality of working strokes in the other direction with respect to said portion of the work blank, and

progressively feeding said blank toward said work rolls.

2. A method of roll reducing a metal work blank;

comprising the steps of operatively positioning the work blank to receive a series of roll working strokes;

placing a pair of small work rolls in operative engagement with opposite sides of said work blank;

placing a pair of backing members in work-force receiving engagement with the respective operative working surfaces of said work rolls;

oscillating said backing members back and forth through a succession of short bi-directional working strokes so as to cause said work rolls to roll back and forth in opposed working relation over a short length of said blank; and feeding said work blank toward said work rolls.

3. The method defined by claim 2 wherein said oscillating step includes retaining the respective geometric axes of said backing members stationary and rotatably oscillating said backing members about said axes so as to induce said rolling action of said work rolls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,466,459 8/ 23 Perry 38 3,013,451 12/61 Scribner 80l8 3,103,139 9/63 Saxl 8040 FOREIGN PATENTS 12,747 6/99 Great Britain. 

1. A METHOD OF ROLL REDUCING A METAL WORK BLANK; COMPRISING THE STEPS OF OPERATIVELY POSITIONING THE WORK BLANK TO RECEIVE A SERIES OF ROLL WORKING STROKES, PLACING A PAIR OF WORK ROLLS IN OPEARTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH OPPOSITE SIDES OF A PORTION OF SAID WORK BLANK, MOVING ONE OF SAID WORK ROLLS THROUGH A PLURALITY OF WORKING STROKES IN ONE DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID PORTION OF THE WORK BLANK, SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVING THE OTHER OF SAID ROLLS THROUGH A PLURALITY OF WORKING STROKES IN THE OTHER DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID PORTION OF THE WORK BLANK, AND PROGRESSIVELY FEEDING SAID BLANK TOWARD SAID WORK ROLLS. 